hi  5 / ; L • 37 


S c.  \y„ 


CHRISTIANITY, 


THE  ULTIMATE  AND  UNIVERSAL 
RELIGION  OF  MAN. 


Christianity  the  Ultimate  and  Universal  Religion  of  Man 


A SERMON 


PREACHED  IN 


THE  BRICK  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK,  MAY  1,  1870, 


FOR  THE 


BY  THE 

Rev.  LEROY  J.  HALSEY,  D.D., 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 


PUBLISHED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


JIew  yor\K  : 

BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS, 

23  CENTRE  STREET. 

1870. 


Cjmstranitg  tljc  Ultimate  anb  ?Iiiib:rsaI  Religion  of  Pan. 


A SERMON. 


“ Then  opened  He  their  understanding,  that  they  might  understand  the 
Scriptures,  and  said  unto  them,  Thus  it  is  written,  and  thus  it  behoved  Christ 
to  suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead  the  third  day,  and  that  repeutance  and  remis- 
sion of  sins  should  be  preached  in  His  name  among  all  nations,  beginning  at 
Jerusalem.”—  Luke  xxiv  : 45—17. 


We  live  in  the  age  of  Missions.  We  are  called  to 
take  part  in  a grand  aggressive  movement,  which  the 
Church  of  God  is  making:  for  the  conversion  of  the  world. 
The  revival  of  the  missionary  spirit,  and  the  organization 
of  this  movement,  may  be  said  to  date  from  the  opening 
of  the  present  century.  There  are,  indeed,  other  prominent 
characteristics  by  which  this  Nineteenth  Century  will  be 
known  and  remembered  in  history.  It  is  the  age  of  the  ad- 
vancement of  science.  It  is  the  ag#  of  discovery,  inven- 
tion, and  every  useful  art — the  age  of  the  telegraph,  the 
railroad,  the  steam-ship,  and  the  steam-press.  It  is  the  age 
of  the  wide  diffusion  of  intelligence  among  the  masses  of 
mankind.  It  is  the  age  of  commerce,  and  intercommun- 
ication between  the  nations  of  the  earth.  But,  above  all, 
it  is  the  age  of  earnest,  concerted,  and  persevering  efforts 
to  carry  the  Gospel  beyond  the  boundaries  of  Christen- 
dom by  missions  to  the  heathen.  As  distinguished  from 
every  other  age  since  the  Apostolic,  it  may  be  called  the 
Saeculum  Evangelicum.  This  is  its  most  marked  distinc- 
tion. This  is  its  highest  and  most  enduring  glory.  By 


4 


this  it  will  doubtless  be  rendered  memorable  in  the  annals 
of  the  future. 

If  we  ask  for  the  divine  warrant  on  which  the  Church 
is  acting  in  this  great  endeavor  to  evangelize  and  Chris- 
tianize the  whole  human  race,  we  shall  find  it  in  all  the 
Scriptures,  but  especially  in  that  inspired  record  which 
sets  before  us  the  wonderful  history  of  Christ  himself. 
Nothing  can  be  more  striking  than  the  world-wide  char- 
acter of  His  Gospel  as  announced  both  in  the  opening 
and  the  closing  pages  of  that  history.  It  opens  at  His 
nativity,  with  a voice  from  Heaven  and  the  song  of  an- 
gels, “ Behold,  I bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy, 
which  shall  be  to  all  people.  For  unto  you  is  born  this 
day,  in  the  city  of  David,  a Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the 
Lord.  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good  will  towards  men.”  It  closes  also  with  a voice  of 
angels,  announcing  his  second  coming,  and  with  the 
promise  of  the  Saviour  about  to  ascend  to  Heaven,  say- 
ing, “ It  is  not  for  you  to  know  the  times  or  the  seasons, 
which  the  Father  hath  put  in  his  own  power.  But  ye 
shall  receive  power  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come 
upon  you  ; and  ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me  both  in 
Jerusalem  and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto 
the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth.” 

During  the  forty  days  preceding  his  ascension,  he  deliver- 
ed to  his  apostles  the  great  commission,  u Go  ye  into  all 
the  world  and  preach  flie  Gospel  to  every  creature  ; ” or,  as 
it  is  given  by  another  evangelist,  “ Go  ye,  therefore,  and 
teach  all  nations,  baptizing  theiu  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I have  commanded 
you  ; and,  lo,  I am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end 
of  the  world.”  In  perfect  harmony  with  these  passages 
are  the  words  of  our  text,  uttered  in  the  hearing  of  II is 
apostles  on  the  evening  of  the  day  in  which  he  rose  from 
the  dead.  Referring  to  the  things  written  in  the  law  of 
Moses,  in  the  Prophets,  and  in  the  Psalms,  concerning 
Himself,  and  opening  their  minds  to  receive  the  truth, 


5 


lie  said,  “Thus  it  is  written,  and  thus  it  behoved  Christ 
to  suffer  and  to  rise  from  the  dead  the  third  day  ; and 
that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be  preached 
in  his  name,  among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem.” 

Here,  then,  in  the  inspired  history  of  the  Son  of  God,  at 
his  incarnation,  at  his  resurrection,  and  in  the  hour  of  his 
ascension,  we  find  the  direct  and  authoritative  warrant 
for  all  that  his  people  are  now  doing,  and  all  that  they 
have  ever  done,  for  the  conquest  of  the  world.  Here 
are  the  marching:  orders  of  the  Church  militant.  Here  is 
the  high  commission  of  the  ministry,  and  all  the  office- 
bearers of  Christ’s  army.  Here  is  the  grand  design  for 
which  they  are  called  of  God  and  sent  into  the  field. 
Here  is  the  glorious  object  for  which  they  arc  to  labor  on 
together  to  the  end  of  time — the  proclamation  of  the  Gos- 
pel to  every  creature,  the  conversion  of  all  nations  to 
Christ,  the  triumph  of  his  kingdom  over  all  the  earth. 
For  this  he  became  incarnate.  For  this  he  suffered  and 
died.  For  this  he  rose  again,  and  ascended  to  heaven. 
Thus  was  it  written  in  all  the  Scriptures,  and  thus  it  be- 
came necessary  for  him  to  suffer,  rise  from  the  dead,  and 
ascend  to  heaven,  to  the  end  that  repentance  and  remis- 
sion of  sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name,  among  all 
nations,  beginning:  at  Jerusalem.  The  work  is  as  wide  as 
the  world  ; the  commission  is  to  the  end  of  time. 

The  expression  here  employed,  “ repentance  and  remis- 
sion of  sins,”  is  a brief  summary  of  the  whole  Gospel. 
Without  the  shedding  of  blood  there  is  no  remission 
Without  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ,  as  the  Lamb  of 
God,  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  no  forgive, 
ness  of  sins,  and  no  repentance  acceptable  to  God  could 
ever  have  been  preached  ; no  gospel  of  glad  tidings  could 
ever  have  been  offered  to  man.  To  preach  repentance 
and  remission  of  sins  is  to  preach  what  Paul  preached 
at  Athens,  “ Jesus  and  the  resurrection,”  and  at  Corinth, 
“ Christ  and  him  crucified.”  It  is  to  preach  the  whole  doc- 
trine of  the  cross.  It  is  to  preach  salvation — the  only 
salvation  possible  to  man.  To  preach  repentance  and 


6 


remission  of  sins  in  his  name  is  to  preach  Christianity. 
For  Christianity  is  Christ.  There  is  no  Christianity  for 
the  soul  without  Christ,  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  God. 

This  standing  order  of  the  Saviour,  given  to  his  Church 
on  the  solemn  and  impressive  occasion  of  his  own  depar- 
ture to  heaven,  remains  in  all  its  sacred  and  binding 
force.  It  is  the  law  of  his  kingdom,  operating  through 
all  the  ages,  upon  every  minister,  and  elder,  and  member 
of  his  Church.  The  high  injunction  to  his  Apostles  was 
to  tarry  at  Jerusalem  until  they  were  endowed  with 
power  from  on  high  by  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  then  to  go  forth  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  There 
must  be  a beginning  at  Jerusalem  ; but  there  should  be 
no  end,  except  with  the  end  of  the  world.  The  central 
point  of  their  departure  was  the  Holy  City  ; but  there 
should  be  no  limits  to  their  progress,  except  with  the 
wide  circuit  of  the  earth.  The  work  commencing  in  that 
first  Christian  century,  and  on  that  sacred  soil,  trodden 
by  the  feet  of  prophets  and  apostles,  should  never  more 
cease  till  every  creature  had  heard  the  glad  tidings,  and 
all  the  tribes  and  nations  of  our  race  had  been  conquered 
by  the  cross  ; till  the  story  of  Immanuel  had  been  told 
in  every  language,  in  every  clime,  on  every  continent  and 
island,  in  every  human  habitation. 

Without  attempting  to  unfold  all  the  important  truths 
contained  in  this  passage,  let  us  take,  as  a theme  appro- 
priate to  the  present  occasion,  that  which  seems  to  be 
its  great  underlying  thought ; namely — that  the  Gospel 
of  Christ  is  the  Ultimate  and  Universal  Religion  of  Man, 
and  that,  as  such,  it  must  be  preached  to  all  nations. 

The  proposition,  as  thus  propounded,  is  twofold  ; it 
contains  both  a doctrine  and  a duty  ; a statement  of  fact, 
and  a lesson  of  obligation.  The  one  is  the  inevitable 
sequence  of  the  other.  If,  by  divine  appointment,  Chris- 
tianity is  the  ultimate  and  universal  religion  of  man,  then 
it  ought  to  be  preached,  and  it  will  be  preached,  to  all 
nations.  Thrown  into  syllogistic  form,  the  argument  may 


7 


be  stated  thus  : The  ultimate  and  universal  religion  ought 
to  be  preached,  and  will  be  preached,  to  all  nations. 
But  Christianity  is  the  ultimate  and  universal  religion. 
Christianity,  therefore,  must  and  will  be  preached  to  all 
nations.  If  the  premises  be  true,  all  must  concede  the 
conclusion.  The  major  premise  none  can  doubt.  Let  us 
then  take  up  the  second  or  middle  term,  that  Christianity 
is  the  ultimate  and  universal  religion  of  man.  On  this 
point  we  need  a deeper  conviction  and  a stronger  faith. 
The  church  needs  to  see  with  a clearer  vision,  and  to  feel 
with  a higher  assurance,  that  Christianity  is  the  true,  the 
last,  and  the  only  remedy  for  our  ruined  race. 

Here,  then,  let  us  build  an  argument  to  strengthen 
faith,  to  encourage  hope,  to  quicken  zeal,  and  to  stimulate 
exertion,  in  the  grand  work  to  which  the  Church  of  these 
latter  days  has  addressed  herself,  of  carrying  the  Gospel 
of  Christ  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Let  us  show, 
if  we  can,  that  Christianity  is  the  only  religion  known  to 
man,  which  possesses  all  the  attributes  and  elements  of 
supremacy,  of  universality,  of  duration,  of  success  and 
final  victory ; and  that  the  Church  is  justified  in  all  the 
sacrifices  of  time  and  toil,  life  and  treasure,  she  is  making 
for  its  diffusion. 


I.  The  first  argument  that  may  be  adduced,  in  favor  of 
Christianity,  as  the  ultimate  and  universal  religion  for 
man,  is  derived  from  its  origin.  It  is  the  religion  of  God. 
It  is  not  a thing  of  man’s  devising.  It  begins  with  the 
creation  and  fall  of  our  race.  It  dates  back  even  from 
the  counsels  of  eternity.  Coming  down  through  all  the 
dispensations  of  the  Jewish  Church,  gradually  unfolded 
in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  Testament,  and  fully  inaug- 
urated by  Christ  and  his  Apostles  in  the  New,  it  is  not 
only  the  most  ancient,  but  the  only  divine  religion  which 
has  ever  existed  on  earth.  Being  the  first,  it  must  be  the 
last.  Being  the  first,  it  must  be  of  God ; and  being  of 
God,  it  can  never  perish.  It  comes  with  the  claim  of  a 


8 


celestial  birthright.  It  already  wears  the  crown  of  nearly 
sixty  centuries. 

Christianity  challenges  the  belief  of  all  mankind,  on 
the  ground  of  evidence  both  human  and  divine.  In  vin- 
dication of  its  claim,  it  appeals  directly  to  every  high  and 
noble  faculty  of  the  human  soul.  Discarding  every  re- 
sort to  passion,  prejudice,  superstition,  brute  force,  and 
military  power,  it  courts  the  keenest  and  closest  scrutiny 
of  enlightened  reason.  Renouncing  every  artifice  of  ig- 
norance or  ambition,  it  stands  ready  to  make  good  its 
claim  to  divinity  at  the  bar  of  the  highest  intelligence  of 
our  race.  A thousand  times  has  it  encountered  the  as- 
saults of  infidelity ; and  a thousand  times  has  it  stood 
fast.  Of  no  other  religion  on  earth  can  this  be  affirmed. 
Appealing  only  to  the  true,  the  beautiful,  and  the  good ; 
and  planting  itself  on  the  ground  of  reason  and  conscience, 
it  has,  in  every  age  and  every  land,  demonstrated  its  claim 
to  a celestial  origin. 

Divine  in  its  Author,  Christianity  is  also  divine  in  its 
aims.  It  comes  from  God,  and  tends  to  God.  It  seeks 
to  raise  our  ruined  nature  to  the  skies.  Its  highest  end 
is  the  glory  of  God  ; and  its  grand  design  is  to  elevate 
man,  and  prepare  him  for  the  enjoyment  of  that  glory. 
It  comes  into  a world  of  sin  and  rebellion.  It  comes  to 
a race  at  war  with  God,  and  at  war  with  itself.  It  finds 
human  nature  a tiger,  and  aims  to  transform  it  into  a 
lamb.  To  a world  in  arms  it  brings  the  gospel  of  peace  ; 
and  strives  to  reconcile  man  to  his  brother-man,  by  first 
reconciling  him  to  his  God. 

The  whole  conception  of  Christianity,  as  revealed  in 
the  Bible,  from  first  to  last,  is  that  of  a divine  remedy  for 
sin,  and  death,  and  woe. 

It  is  a perfect  system  of  saving  truth,  emanating  from 
God  our  Maker,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier — a system  of 
facts,  doctrines,  precepts,  promises,  penalties,  means,  agen- 
cies, and  influences,  all  given  for  the  express  purpose  of 
raising  us  from  ruin,  and  fitting  us  for  an  immortr  ity  of 
blessedness  and  glory  in  the  heavens. 


9 


Revealing  a pure  spiritual  God,  and  a pure  spiritual 
heaven,  it  requires  a pure  spiritual  worship.  It  seeks  to 
make  man  happy,  by  making  him  holy  ; and  to  make  him 
holy,  by  making  him  like  his  God.  And  it  accomplishes 
its  ends,  not  by  fleets  and  armies,  not  by  human  might  or 
power,  not  by  the  thunder  of  artillery,  or  the  lightning  of 
any  earthly  sword ; but  by  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  the 
truth  of  God.  It  conquers  by  moral  and  spiritual  power, 
or  not  at  all.  The  weapons  of  its  warfare  are  not  carnal, 
but  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong- 
holds. 

Is  there  any  intelligent  man,  who  can  read  the  Bible, 
and  fail  to  see,  that  this  is  the  true  ideal  and  end  of  Chris- 
tianity, as  a remedial  system?  And  is  there  any  candid 
student  of  history,  who  will  deny,  that  from  the  hour, 
when  this  gospel  was  completed  on  the  Cross,  and  weut 
forth  from  Jerusalem  to  be  preached  to  the  Gentile  nations, 
it  has  everywhere  vindicated  itself  as  the  religion  of  hea- 
ven? In  the  face  of  the  most  formidable  opposition  that 
was  ever  arrayed  against  any  cause,  has  it  not  won  the 
profound  and  admiring  homage  of  millions  of  mankind, 
including  many  of  the  most  powerful  and  brilliant  think- 
ers that  have  adorned  the  annals  of  civilized  history  ? 

What  other  religious  system,  then,  ancient  or  modern, 
can  dispute  with  Christianity  the  claim  to  a Divine  ori- 
gin ? Of  all  the  religions  in  the  world,  where  is  the  com- 
petitor? Shall  the  sensual  and  war-clad  religion  of  the 
Koran,  or  the  old  and  effete  systems  of  China  and  India, 
be  placed  in  the  balances  against  the  Gospel  ? To  name 
them  in  this  connection,  would  be  as  absurd,  as  to  call 
back  the  exploded  idolatries  of  the  old  pagan  nations, 
whose  lords  many,  and  gods  many,  are  buried  in  the  dust 
of  ages.  Of  all  the  religions  now  in  the  world,  it  may  be 
as  truly  said,  as  of  those  which  are  dead  and  gone,  that 
Christianity  is  without  a rival.  Of  Divine  religions,  there 
is  but  one.  It  is  the  first ; and  it  is  destined  to  be  the 
last.  It  extends  back  to  the  gates  of  Paradise  Lost,  and 
forward  to  those  of  Paradise  Regained. 


10 


We  need  not  press  tlie  point;  but  every  intelligent  and 
candid  mind  must  feel  the  force  of  the  argument,  that  the 
only  Divine  religion  ought  to  be  preached,  and  will  yet 
be  preached  to  the  whole  family  of  man. 

II.  The  next  reason  we  offer,  in  proof  of  the  proposi- 
tion, that  Christianity  is  to  be  the  final  and  universal  reli- 
gion, is  found  in  its  perfect  adaptation  to  human  nature. 
It  is  the  only  religion  ever  preached  on  earth,  which  is  ad- 
equate to  all  the  necessities  of  our  condition  as  lost  and 
guilty  sinners;  to  give  us  peace  of  conscience  towards 
God,  and  a good  hope  of  eternal  life  beyond  the  grave. 
It  is  suited  alike  to  every  clime  and  nation,  and  to  every 
condition  in  which  men  are  found,  from  the  heights  of 
hereditary  power  to  the  extremes!  depths  of  poverty  and 
wretchedness.  The  air  we  breathe,  the  sunshine  and  the 
rain  from  heaven,  and  the  food  which  sustains  our  mortal 
existence,  are  not  more  perfectly  adapted  to  their  end,  than 
the  gospel  of  Christ  is  adapted  to  the  soul. 

Having  God  for  its  author,  truth  for  its  basis,  salvation 
for  its  end,  and  the  crown  of  life  as  its  reward,  this  is  the 
only  religious  system  ever  propounded,  which  is  at  once 
worthy  of  the  acceptation  of  all  mankind,  and  suited  to 
their  wants  and  woes,  hopes  and  aspirations,  as  dying,  yet 
immortal  beings.  It  is  the  only  religion  of  well-grounded 
faith,  of  perfect  love,  of  soul-cheering  hope,  of  universal 
peace,  of  self-denying  virtue.  It  is  the  only  religion  of 
reconciliation  and  atonement.  It  proclaims  the  absolute 
fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  unbroken  brotherhood  of  man, 
teaching  that  all  men  are  the  “ offspring  of  God,  who  hath 
made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  to  dwell  on  all  the 
face  of  the  earth.’’ 

It  provides  and  offers  a salvation,  ample  as  the  wants  of 
the  world,  and  competent  to  heal  the  maladies  of  every 
soul  that  will  receive  it.  Coming  with  the  price  of  an  in- 
finite sacrifice,  even  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  to  remove 
the  guilt  of  sin,  and  with  the  potential  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  to  wash  away  the  pollution  of  sin,  it  does 


11 


for  man  what  nothing  else  has  ever  (lone  or  can  do — lays 
a foundation  for  his  faith  in  God,  raises  him  up  from  the 
degradation  of  sin,  transforms  his  character  into  the  like- 
ness of  Christ,  and  inspires  his  heart  as  by  the  power  of 
an  endless  life.  It  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to 
every  one  that  believeth ; to  the  Jew  first  and  also  to  the 
Greek. 

This  world- wide  adaptation  of  the  gospel  of  Christ 
distinguishes  it  from  every  other  religious  system.  It  is 
as  wide  and  unrestricted,  in  its  offers  of  grace  and  mercy, 
as  have  been  the  ravages  of  sin  and  death.  Wherever  sin 
and  death  have  gone,  there  may  the  gospel  go ; there  is 
the  gospel  needed.  Its  invitation  is,  “ Whosoever  will,  let 
him  take  the  water  of  life  freely.  Ho ! every  one  that 
thirsteth : come  ye  to  the  waters.  Look  unto  me,  and  be 
ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  ; for  I am  God,  and  there 
is  none  else.” 

The  one  blood  of  the  Cross  is  offered  to  all,  and  adapted 
to  all  in  whose  veins  flows  the  one  blood  of  creation, 
That  blood  is  as  adequate  for  the  redemption  of  the  whole 
race,  as  for  the  redemption  of  a single  soul.  It  is  wonder- 
ful to  observe,  how  the  unities  cluster  around  the  cross  of 
Christ — one  God  and  Father  of  all,  one  Mediator,  one  dying 
race,  one  offering  for  siu,  one  Divine  Spirit,  one  faith,  one 
baptism,  one  Gospel,  one  Church,  one  common  salvation, 
and  one  eternal  heaven.  There  is  but  one  Bible,  and  but 
one  religion  made  for  man. 

In  this  respect  Christianity  stands  forth  in  solitary  and 
unapproachable  grandeur.  All  other  religions  have  been 
local  and  national,  without  even  the  conception  of  a uni- 
versal extension.  All  others  have  risen,  flourished,  and 
decayed  within  their  narrow  domains,  except  only  as  they 
have  been  propagated  by  immigration,  or  the  sword.  None 
but  Christianity  has  ever  sent  its  missionaries  across  the 
seas,  and  its  evangelists  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  It  has 
been  reserved  for  the  Gospel,  to  grasp  the  idea  of  one  faith 
for  all  nations,  and  to  teach  that  its  field  is  the  world,  and 
its  home  the  heart  of  every  human  being. 


12 


Its  mission  is  alike  to  the  Jew  and  the  Gentile,  to  the 
wise  and  the  unwise,  to  the  lonely  islanders  of  tLe  ocean, 
and  to  the  teeming  millions  of  the  continent;  for  here,  in 
the  words  of  an  apostle,  “ there  is  neither  Greek  nor  Jew, 
circumcision  nor  uncircumcision,  barbarian,  Scythian,  bond 
nor  free  ; but  Christ  is  all,  and  in  all.”  Can  any  man,  then, 
deny  the  conclusion,  that  this  Divine  Gospel,  so  full  in  its 
provisions,  so  free  in  its  offer,  and  so  adapted  to  human 
nature,  shall  be  preached  to  all  nations  as  the  ultimate  and 
universal  religion  ? 

III.  Another  consideration,  which  may  be  offered,  in 
support  of  our  main  proposition,  is  drawn  from  the  pro- 
phecies of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures.  It  is  there 
clearly  and  repeatedly  predicted,  that  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
should  finall}  triumph  over  all  opposition,  and  become  the 
accepted  belief  of  all  mankind.  From  the  first  promise  of 
a Saviour  in  Eden,  down  to  his  advent,  this  forms  one  of 
the  most  fruitful  themes  of  prophetic  inspiration.  The 
coming  of  Immanuel  in  the  flesh,  and  with  it,  the  establish- 
ment of  his  kingdom  over  the  nations;  the  preaching  of  his 
Gospel  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  the  ushering  in  of  the 
latter-day  glory  of  the  Church,  “ when  the  earth  shall  be 
full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
sea,”  may  be  said  to  constitute  the  grand  burden  of  Old 
Testament  prediction. 

Through  all  the  Prophets,  and  all  the  Psalms,  and  pre- 
sented in  the  glowing  imagery  of  Hebrew  poetry,  stands 
forth  the  sublime  conception  of  a universal  religion  of  holi- 
ness and  truth,  and  a universal  kingdom  of  righteousness 
and  peace,  which  should  break  over  every  opposing  bar- 
rier of  error  and  superstition,  and  bring  every  knee  to  bow, 
and  every  tongue  to  confess,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to 
the  glory  of  God  the  Father.  This  is  the  golden  age  of 
glory,  when  all  shall  know  the  Lord,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest;  when  all  flesh  shall  see  his  salvation;  when  all 
nations  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  his  countenance;  when 
the  tabernacle  of  God  shall  be  with  men ; when  the  lion 


13 


and  tlie  lamb  shall  lie  down  together;  and  there  shall  be 
nothing  to  hurt  or  destroy,  in  all  his  holy  mountain. 

This  magnificent  conception,  which  runs  with  increasing 
clearness  through  all  the  Scriptures,  is  found  in  the  very 
first  promise  which  God  gave  to  Abraham,  when  he  es- 
tablished with  him,  as  the  Father  of  the  Faithful,  his  ever- 
lasting covenant,  and  spoke  of  the  Messiah  to  come,  say- 
ing, “ In  thee  and  in  thy  seed,  shall  all  the  families  of  the 
earth  be  blessed.” 

This  conception  of  a final  and  all-conquering  kingdom, 
fills  the  mind  of  the  inspired  Psalmist,  when  describing 
that  Messiah’s  reign,  he  says,  “Yet  have  I set  my  King 
upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion.  I will  declare  the  decree  : the 
Lord  hath  said  unto  me,  Thou  art  my  son ; this  day  have 
I begotten  thee.  Ask  of  me,  and  I shall  give  thee  the 
heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of 
the  earth  for  thy  possession.” 

From  the  glowing  pages  of  Isaiah,  whole  chapters  might 
be  quoted,  in  illustration  of  the  same  great  truth.  “ It 
shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,”  says  he,  “ that  the 
mountain  of  the  Lord’s  house  shall  be  established  in  the 
top  of  the  mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills ; 
and  all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it.  And  many  people  shall 
go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of 
the  Lord,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob ; and  he  will 
teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths : for 
out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  the 
Lord  from  Jerusalem.  And  he  shall  judge  among  the  na- 
tions, and  shall  rebuke  many  people,  and  they  shall  beat 
their  swords  into  ploughshares,  and  their  spears  into 
pruning-hooks : nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  na- 
tion, neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more.” 

To  this  may  be  added  another  passage  from  the  same 
evangelical  prophet,  describing  the  final  triumph  of  the 
Gospel,  and  the  millennial  glory  of  the  Church.  “ Arise, 
shine,  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is 
risen  upon  thee.  For  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover  the 
earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people:  but  the  Lord  shall 


14 


arise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be  seen  upon  thee. 
And  the  Gentiles  shall  come  to  thy  light,  and  kings  to  the 
brightness  of  thy  rising.  Lift  up  thine  eyes  round  about, 
and  see  : all  they  gather  themselves  together,  they  come 
to  thee  : thy  sons  shall  come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters 
shall  be  nursed  at  thy  side.  Then  thou  shalt  see,  and  flow 
together,  and  thine  heart  shall  fear,  and  be  enlarged ; be- 
cause the  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be  converted  unto 
thee,  the  forces  of  the  Gentiles  shall  come  unto  thee.” 

In  harmony  with  these  glowing  descriptions,  we  have 
the  word  of  the  Lord  by  Malachi,  who  closes  the  long  line 
of  Old  Testament  prophecy:  “From  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
even  unto  the  going  down  of  the  same,  my  name  shall  be 
great  among  the  Gentiles ; and  in  every  place  incense  shall 
be  offered  unto  my  name,  and  a pure  offering  ; for  my 
name  shall  be  great  among  the  heathen,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts.” 

Now,  can  we  for  a moment  doubt,  that  a religion,  whose 
final  triumph  was  thus  distinctly  foretold,  and  described, 
under  the  inspiration  of  God,  two  thousand,  and  even 
three  thousand  years  ago,  shall  ye  fulfil  its  grand  destiny, 
and  realize  this  glorious  conception  of  complete  and  uni- 
versal dominion  ? Then,  how  great  is  the  obligation,  how 
urgent  the  duty,  how  strong  the  encouragement,  to  the 
Church,  to  preach  it  to  all  nations. 

IV.  But  we  must  now  add  another  element  to  our  argu- 
ment, closely  allied  to  the  one  just  stated.  It  is,  that  the 
great  Founder,  Christ  himself,  distinctly  contemplated 
Christianity,  as  the  last  and  triumphant  religion.  Of  this, 
our  text,  and  the  parallel  passages,  furnish  abundant  proof. 
Of  this,  his  solemn  charge,  to  preach  it  to  all  nations,  is  an 
ample  demonstration. 

He  predicted,  that  it  should  begin  at  Jerusalem,  em- 
brace all  nations,  and  continue  to  the  end  of  the  world. 
He,  who  was  greater  than  all  the  prophets,  said,  that  he 
would  build  his  church  upon  himself,  the  Rock  of  Ages, 
and  that  the  gates  of  hell  should  not  prevail  against  it. 


15 


Of  all  the  thoughts  lie  uttered  while  upon  earth,  none  was 
more  clearly  stated,  than  that  his  kingdom  was  as  wide 
as  the  world,  and  should  outlast  the  world — that  it  should 
subdue  all  other  kingdoms,  and  be  transferred  to  the  new 
heavens,  and  the  new  earth. 

With  unerring  vision,  he  foresaw  the  end  from  the  be- 
ginning, and  predicted  the  result.  He  saw  of  the  travail 
of  his  soul,  and  was  satisfied.  lie  knew  what  was  in  man, 
and  he  knew  what  should  be  in  the  world.  He  came  to 
suffer,  to  die,  and  to  conquer.  He  saw  Satan  fall,  as  light- 
ning from  heaven,  and  his  kingdom  demolished.  He 
looked  through  suffering  and  death,  through  the  cross  and 
the  sepulcher,  to  the  crown  of  final  triumph.  He  foresaw 
his  gospel  carried  to  the  euds  of  the  earth,  and  nations 
born  in  a day.  Having  laid  the  foundations  of  his  empire, 
in  suffering,  as  our  great  High  Priest,  he  ascended  to  his 
mediatorial  throne  as  our  exalted  King,  to  reign  and  rule, 
till  all  enemies  are  put  under  his  feet. 

On  one  occasion,  in  view  of  his  approaching  crucifixion, 
he  said,  “ And  I,  if  I be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto 
me.”  On  another  occasion,  speaking  of  the  great  things 
which  should  fill  up  the  interval  between  his  first  and  sec- 
ond coming,  he  said,  “ And  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall 
be  preached  in  all  the  world  for  a witness  unto  all  nations; 
and  then  shall  the  end  come.”  Thus,  during  his  public 
ministry,  after  his  resurrection,  and  as  he  ascended  to  hea- 
ven, he  comprehended  in  one  view  the  whole  course  of  time, 
and  declared,  that  his  gospel  should  be  preached  to  all  na- 
tions, even  to  the  end  of  the  world.  As  a Priest  he  had 
died  for  it,  as  a Prophet  he  had  foretold  it,  as  a King  he 
ascended  to  heaven  to  accomplish  it.  This  was  a part  of 
the  Divine  plan  ; this  was  the  result  of  his  own  Divine  mis- 
sion, “that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be 
preached  in  his  name,  among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jeru- 
salem.” 

So  the  Apostle  Paul  views  it,  in  that  remarkable  pas- 
sage, in  which  he  speaks  of  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  to 
'-•he  Gentiles,  as  one  of  the  wonders  of  redemption.  “ And 


16 


without  controversy  great  is  the  mystery  of  Godliness; 
God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the  spirit,  seen 
of  angels,  preached  unto  the  Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the 
world,  received  up  into  glory.” 

Thus  the  Divine  Founder  of  Christianity,  having  finish- 
ed on  the  cross,  what  had  been  written  of  him,  in  Moses, 
and  the  Prophets,  and  the  Psalms,  and  having  inaugura- 
ted his  church  and  ministry  under  a final  dispensation, 
gives  them  this  last  great  command,  “ Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.  He  that 
believeth,  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved,  but  he  that  be- 
lieveth  not  shall  be  damned.”  Never  wras  any  parting 
charge  more  comprehensive  in  its  range,  more  authorita- 
tive in  its  tone,  more  binding  in  its  obligations,  more 
solemn  and  momentous  in  its  issues. 

It  was  the  beginning  of  the  end  so  long  contemplated. 
It  wTas  the  actual  setting  up  of  that  spiritual  kingdom, 
which  was  not  of  this  world ; and  was  to  break  in  pieces 
every  opposing  kingdom  of  the  world.  This  great  and 
comprehensive  command,  embracing  all  nations,  and  all 
time  in  its  mighty  sweep,  is  itself  a demonstration  that  the 
author  of  Christianity  was  Divine  ; and  that  in  his  death, 
his  resurrection,  and  his  ascension  to  heaven,  he  accom- 
plished a work,  which,  in  the  grandeur  of  its  conception, 
the  permanency  of  its  results,  and  the  benefits  it  secures, 
places  him  upon  an  elevation,  unapproached  and  unap- 
proachable, by  all  the  achievements  of  the  sages,  philoso- 
phers, and  heroes  of  this  world.  Where  is  the  religious 
system  that  has  ever  issued  a command  like  this,  inaugu- 
rated a philanthropy  like  this,  developed  and  put  into 
execution  a conception  like  this — a gospel  breathing  peace 
on  earth,  and  good  will  to  all  men,  committed  by  its  great 
Author  to  his  people,  with  the  injunction  to  preach  it  to 
all  nations,  and  with  the  promise,  that  he  will  be  with 
them,  to  the  end  of  the  world  ? Do  we  need  any  higher 
demonstration  than  is  furnished  by  this  command,  that  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  must  go  on  conquering,  and  to  conquer, 
until  it  shall  win  a final  and  universal  dominion,  and  the 


17 


prayer  of  all  ages,  Thy  kingdom  come,  shall  be  an- 
swered ? 

V.  And  yet  another  link  may  be  added  to  this  chain. 
It  is  the  demonstration  of  history.  It  is  the  logic  of  events 
— the  great  events,  that  have  marked  the  progress  and 
triumph  of  eighteen  centuries.  Christianity  has  already 
done  enough  to  prove  that  it  can  do  all  that  remains.  It 
has  erected  its  standards,  and  won  its  trophies  all  along  the 
ages  which  are  past.  Human  nature  is  the  same  in  every 
era,  and  every  land ; and  the  future  is  iu  no  sense  more 
difficult  than  the  past. 

There  are  no  fiercer  foes  for  the  Gospel  yet  to  meet,  than 
it  has  already  met.  There  are  no  harder  battles  yet  to 
fight,  than  it  has  already  fought.  There  are  no  costlier 
conquests  yet  to  win,  than  it  has  already  won  on  a thou- 
sand fields.  The  religious  system,  which  could  withstand 
the  fierce  fanaticism  of  the  Jewish  race,  which  could  con- 
quer the  brilliant  philosophy  and  mythology  of  classic 
Greece,  which  could  face  the  ten  fiery  persecutions  of  Ro- 
man power,  which  could  meet  and  vanquish  the  bloody 
barbarians  of  Central  and  Northern  Europe,  need  not 
shrink  from  any  encounter  it  may  have  to  make  with  the 
hoary  idolatries  of  the  present  pagan  world. 

Our  argument  for  Christianity,  as  thus  far  presented, 
based  upon  its  Divine  origin,  its  adaptation  to  human 
nature,  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Testament,  and  the  com- 
mand of  its  great  Founder,  would  have  been  complete  and 
satisfactory  at  the  opening  of  the  Apostolic  age,  even  be- 
fore a single  preacher  had  gone  forth  from  Jerusalem,  ora 
single  convert  had  been  won  from  the  Gentile  world. 

If,  therefore,  we  had  no  history  of  the  past,  the  duty  of 
the  Church  would  be  clear  and  urgent,  even  as  it  was  at 
the  beginning,  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  But  if 
the  argument  would  be  conclusive  and  satisfactory  in  that 
case,  much  more  is  it  now.  What  excuse  is  there  for  un- 
belief and  delay,  after  this  added  demonstration  of  eighteen 
centuries  ? If  the  apostles  were  now  in  the  world,  seeing 


18 


what  we  see,  and  knowing  what  we  know,  of  the  wonder- 
ful things  which  God  has  wrought,  and  of  the  wonderful 
progress  which  the  Gospel  is  making  in  every  part  of  the 
world,  where  it  has  been  preached,  what  would  they  think 
of  our  indecision  and  delay  ? 

To  feel  the  full  force  of  this  argument  from  history,  for 
the  final  and  universal  prevalence  of  the  gospel,  let  us 
briefly  recur  to  the  three  great  periods  of  its  triumph. 

The  first,  is  that  of  the  primitive  church,  commencing 
with  the  labors  of  the  apostles,  and  culminating  in  the 
conversion  of  Constantine.  Can  any  demonstration  be 
more  signal  and  complete,  for  the  gospel,  as  the  mighty 
power  of  God,  than  its  successful  progress  during  the  first 
three  centuries  ? It  was  the  first  grand  missionary  move- 
ment, furnishing  a divine  model  for  all  subsequent  ages. 
Beginning  at  Jerusalem,  according  to  Christ’s  great  com- 
mand, the  gospel  went  forth  from  city  to  city,  from  land 
to  land,  until,  in  three  centuries,  it  had  swept  the  circuit 
of  all  the  nations  surrounding  the  Mediterranean,  pene- 
trated to  the  utmost  limits  of  the  Roman  world,  and  be- 
come the  prevailing  religion  of  the  empire. 

With  no  power,  but  that  of  truth,  of  love  and  of  God, 
it  had  won  its  way  over  the  combined  unbelief  and  oppo- 
sition of  the  three  great  races,  which  had  so  long  held  the 
mastery  of  the  world,  and  embodied  the  civilization  of  an- 
tiquity. It  had  been  preached  in  the  three  languages  in- 
scribed upon  the  cross  of  the  dying  Son  of  God — the 
Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin  ; and  it  had  met  and  conquered, 
on  their  own  arena,  the  Jew,  the  Greek  and  the  Roman. 
It  had  been  preached  in  all  the  tongues  spoken  on  the  day 
of  Pentecost ; and  it  had  proclaimed  the  truth,  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  to  Barbarians,  Scythians,  bond  and  free,  in  their  re- 
motest borders. 

In  all  history,  has  there  ever  been  a more  difficult 
achievement,  or  a grander  triumph  ? Is  there  any  tliiug, 
in  the  Paganism  of  our  day,  harder  to  overcome,  than  the 
prejudice  of  the  Jew,  the  philosophy  of  the  Greek,  the 
pride  of  the  Roman,  and  the  ferocity  of  the  ancient  Bar- 


19 


barian?  Is  there  any  thing,  in  the  superstitions  of  the 
African,  in  the  learned  traditions  of  the  Hindoo,  in  the 
boasting  philosophy  of  the  Chinese,  in  the  savage  wildness 
of  the  American  Indian,  and  in  the  fanatical  zeal  of  the 
Mohammedan,  more  formidable  than  that  which  the  Gospel 
vanquished  in  its  first  great  conflict  with  the  religious 
systems  of  antiquity  ? 

The  second  period  of  progress  and  triumph,  is  that 
which  extends  from  Constantine  down  through  the  Mid- 
dle Ages ; during  which  the  Gospel  subdued  and  reclaim- 
ed the  warlike  and  bloody  idolaters  of  all  Central  aud 
Northern  Europe.  The  earth  has  probably  never  been 
trodden  by  tribes  and  races,  more  fierce  and  intractable, 
than  those  which  once  peopled  Europe,  overthrew  the  Ro- 
man Empire,  aud  became  the  founders  of  the  present 
European  nations. 

But  what  are  they  now  ? The  most  enlightened,  power- 
ful and  highly  civilized  portion  of  the  globe.  xVnd  what 
has  civilized  them  ? The  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  By 
what  instrumentality  were  they  converted  to  Christ  ? By 
the  preaching  of  the  Cross  ; by  missions  to  the  heathen. 
They  were  once  all  heathens,  of  the  darkest,  fiercest,  most 
vindictive  character.  When  Christianity  first  encountered 
them,  they  were  as  ignorant,  as  barbarous,  as  much  with- 
out hope,  and  without  God  in  the  world,  as  any  of  the 
Pagan  tribes  and  nations  to  which  the  Gospel  is  now 
sent. 

But  during  the  long  progress  of  ages,  the  Gospel  was 
preached,  the  Scriptures  were  translated,  the  generations 
were  taught  and  trained,  the  foundations  of  the  Church 
were  laid,  a native  ministry  was  raised  up,  and  the  mighty 
change  was  wrought.  For  centuries  all  Europe  was  a 
missionary  field ; and  at  last,  all  Europe  was  converted 
from  idolatry  to  Christ.  The  rude  Goth,  the  roving  Van- 
dal, the  treacherous  Frank,  the  warlike  Norman,  the 
daring  Saxon,  the  ferocious  Hun,  the  sturdy  German,  the 
impetuous  Celt,  the  hardy  Scot,  the  fur-clad  Scandinavian 
became  a Christian. 


20 


Let  it  never  be  forgotten,  that  all  the  nations  of  modern  * 
Europe  were  evangelized  and  civilized  by  Christianity. 
This  was  its  second  great  missionary  triumph,  not  less  de- 
cisive and  important  than  the  first.  This  is  the  work, 
which  it  was  doing  through  all  the  Middle  Ages.  And 
though  its  power  was  greatly  impaired  by  the  corruption 
and  despotism  of  the  Papacy,  yet  its  progress  was  onward 
and  upward ; and  it  prepared  the  material,  out  of  which 
sprang  the  memorable  Reformation  of  the  Sixteenth  Cen- 
tury. And  now  behold  the  result  of  missions  to  the  hea- 
then— Christian  Europe,  and  Christian  America,  two 
continents  conquered  and  given  to  Christ.  Shall  we,  then, 
whose  own  ancestors  were  once  savage  idolaters,  doubt 
the  power  of  the  Gospel  to  convert  the  heathen,  and  to 
win  its  final  and  universal  victory  ? 

When  asked,  therefore,  what  our  missionaries  are  doing 
in  India  and  China,  we  answer,  precisely  what  the  early 
missionaries  and  evangelists  did  for  all  the  nations  of 
Europe;  and  by  the  blessing  of  God  with  the  same 
results. 

And  now,  we  are  in  the  opening  century  of  the  third 
period.  The  first  great  conquest  prepared  for  the  second  ; 
and  the  second,  with  its  glorious  Reformation  and  revival, 
prepared  all  Europe  and  America  for  the  third.  The  Holy 
Land  was  the  first  base-line  of  operation  ; then  the  Roman 
Empire;  then  Protestant  Europe;  and  then  America. 
First  from  Jerusalem  ; then  from  Rome ; then  from  Lon- 
don ; and  now  from  London,  and  New  York,  and  San 
Francisco  to  all  the  world.  Westward  the  star  of  empire 
takes  its  way  ; and  Westward  has  the  Sun  of  the  Gospel 
travelled,  till  it  is  now  brightening  all  the  eastern  horizon 
with  the  dawn  of  a final  day. 

In  obedience  to  the  great  command,  which  began  to  be 
fulfilled  at  Jerusalem,  and  has  been  fulfilling,  on  an  ever- 
widening  field,  the  Church,  is  now,  in  this  Nineteenth 
Century,  girding  herself  for  that  last  aggressive  movement, 
which  is  to  make  the  boundaries  of  Christendom  the 
boundaries  of  the  world.  The  Christianity  of  this  Nine- 


21 


teen tli  Century,  with  the  glorious  prestige  of  all  the  past, 
is  active,  aggressive,  and  hopeful.  Her  broad  banner  is 
floating  on  the  breeze,  and  on  it  written  “ The  everlasting 
Gospel  for  the  nations.” 

We'stand  nowin  the  midst  of  that  going  forth  of  the 
heralds  of  salvation,  which  seems  to  be  symbolized  in  the 
visions  of  the  Apocalypse,  under  the  imagery  of  the  flying 
angel.  “ And  I saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  unto 
them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and 
kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  saying,  with  a loud 
voice,  Fear  God,  and  give  glory  to  him  ; for  the  hour  of 
his  judgment  is  come  ; and  worship  him  that  made  heaven 
and  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of  the  waters.” 

And  now  behold  the  demonstration  of  success  and 
triumph,  in  our  own  day.  Look  abroad,  over  the  heathen 
world,  and  mark  the  living  witnesses  of  gospel  grace  in 
every  missionary  station,  from  Greenland  to  the  Southern 
Cape,  from  Japan  to  the  most  distant  islands  of  the  sea. 
It  is  only  three-quarters  of  a century  since  this  last  great 
work  began  ; and  see  what  wonders  God  has  wrought ! 

In  connection  with  Protestant  evangelical  churches, 
there  is  now  in  the  missionary  field,  a grand  aggregate  of 
three  thousand  five  hundred  ordained  missionaries,  foreign 
and  native,  six  thousand  six  hundred  assistant  mission- 
aries, foreign  and  native,  three  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand communicants,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty -five 
thousand  scholars  in  the  mission  schools.  Here  are  more 
than  a quarter  of  a million  of  souls  reclaimed  from  idola- 
try, added  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  standing  as  living 
witnesses  of  the  power  of  his  gospel. 

Can  we  doubt,  that  the  power,  which  has  converted  this 
vast  multitude  to  Christ,  in  answer  to  the  prayer,  and  the 
effort  of  the  Church,  is  competent  to  carry  forward  the 
work  to  its  complete  and  final  consummation  ? Is  any 
thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord?  Is  any  thing  too  hard  for 
Him  who  has  accomplished  all  these  wonders,  and  who 
has  said  to  his  Church,  “ The  nation  and  the  kingdom  that 


, 22 


will  not  serve  tliee,  shall  perish.  Yea,  those  nations  shall 
be  utterly  wasted  ? ” 

In  opposition  to  all  this,  it  has  sometimes  been  ashed, 
in  unbelief,  Why  has  the  progress  of  missions  been  so 
slow  ? If  Christianity  be  Divine,  and  the  only  religion 
for  man,  why  have  not  all  nations  been  converted  long 
ago?  In  answer  to  such  an  objection,  it  is  sufficient  to 
say,  that  the  God  of  Providence  is  not  straitened  for  time. 
“ Providence,”  says  one,  “ makes  a step,  and  ages  have 
rolled  away.”  If  it  took  four  thousand  years  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  advent  of  Christ,  and  the  first  promulga- 
tion of  his  gospel  to  the  nations,  shall  we  say,  that  eigh- 
teen centuries  are  too  long  for  its  final  consummation  i If 
it  took  three  centuries,  to  convert  the  nations  bordering 
the  Mediterranean  Sea,  and  from  five  to  ten  centuries,  to 
evangelize  the  great  nations  of  modern  Europe,  are  we  to 
say  that  Providence  is  too  slow,  and  that  the  chariot 
wheels  of  a final  triumph  are  too  long  delayed,  because 
the  Gospel  has  not  conquered  all  Asia,  Africa,  America 
and  the  islands  of  the  sea,  in  less  than  a hundred  years? 

Let  us  not  forget  that  almost  all  great  movements  are 
slow.  The  coral  reefs  are  slowly  built ; but  when  at  last 
they  rise  from  their  deep  and  broad  foundations,  they 
form  the  bulwark  of  mighty  continents,  and  defy  the 
ocean  and  the  storm.  Colonization  is  slow.  The  growth 
of  nations  is  slow.  The  advance  of  science,  of  art,  and  of 
human  liberty,  is  slow.  The  progress  of  the  Gospel  is  in 
analogy  with  all  other  great  moral  movements.  It  has  in- 
deed, led  the  van,  in  the  march  of  human  civilization. 

Let  no  one  then,  say,  that  the  work  of  modern  missions 
has  failed  in  its  grand  purpose  of  converting  the  world, 
because  every  thing  has  not  been  accomplished  within 
this  Nineteenth  Century.  When  tempted  to  think,  that 
too  much  money  and  time  have  been  spent  on  the  mission 
work,  and  too  many  valuable  lives  sacrificed,  let  us  re- 
member, that  the  foundations  of  Christianity  among  the 
heathen,  have  to  be  laid  in  the  lowest  depths,  and  that  it 


23 


requires  time  to  raise  the  structure.  The  apt  illustration 
of  one  of  our  own  missionaries  now  in  the  field,  is  here  in 
point. 

“ We  build,  as  they  build  a breakwater,  upon  some 
coast  where  there  is  no  harbor.  Year  after  year,  thousands 
of  tons  of  stone  are  quarried  and  brought  and  cast  into 
the  sea.  Thousands  of  dollars  are  spent,  but  the  passer- 
by sees  not  the  faintest  sign  of  any  result.  Years  pass, 
and  the  waves  roll  on  unbroken,  but  at  last,  a solid  wall 
rises  above  the  water,  and  remains  to  defy  all  storms  to 
the  end  of  time.  How  rejoiced  the  builders  must  be, 
when  the  first  frail  line  of  stone  peeps  out  of  the  sea ! 
Till  then  they  have  toiled  in  faith ; then  faith  begins  to  be 
aided  by  sight,  and  they  go  on  joyfully  to  assured  tri- 
umph. Just  so  it  is,  that  we  rejoice  over  any  sign,  that 
Christ’s  breakwater  against  idolatry  and  sin — the  Chris- 
tian Church — will  ere  long-  arise  here  high  and  strong, — 
lasting  enough  to  bear  all  assaults,  and  defy  all  opposition. 
Men  may  say,  ‘ The  sea  has  swallowed  up  all  your  Bibles 
and  tracts,  your  teaching,  your  preaching,  and  your  prayers, 
and  gives  no  sign.1  But  we  can  see  the  wall  arising,  and 
it  shall  never  be  swept  away,  for  the  corner-stone  is 
Christ.” 

Christianity  has  made  no  failures,  has  taken  no  back- 
ward step,  has  lost  no  real  ground.  A part  of  her  ancient 
domain  has,  indeed,  been  overrun,  by  the  sword  of  the 
Turk  and  the  Saracen.  Corruption,  priestcraft  and  world- 
ly ambition  have  seduced  one  portion  of  her  followers ; 
heresy  and  infidelity  another ; but  Christianity  herself, 
stands  forth  to-day,  erect,  vigorous,  and  joyful,  the  domi- 
nant religion  of  the  world.  Through  all  the  conflicts  and 
disasters  of  the  past,  despite  of  all  treacher}^  within  and 
opposition  without,  she  has  pressed  her  onward  way  to 
the  conquest  of  the  world.  Her  progress  is  still  onward, 
and  with  an  acceleration  of  power,  never  known  before. 
In  the  words  of  another,* 

“ Christianity  is  on  her  march,  and  nothing  will  stop  it. 

* Sylvester  Larned. 


24: 


She  is  moving  forward ; and  whoever  opposes  her  pro- 
gress, will  only  be  crushed  to  pieces.  She  throws  off  the 
puny  efforts  of  Infidelity,  as  the  majestic  lion  shakes  from 
his  mane  the  dew-drops  of  the  morning.  She  asks  no 
armistice  or  compromise  from  her  enemies ; if  they  will 
fall  into  the  magnificent  procession  she  is  leading,  they 
may  yet  be  received ; if  not,  they  must  abide  the  issue. 
Methinks  the  celestial  bands  are  this  moment  ' ’ i *■ 
welcome  her  approach  to  her  native  skies.  M ^s  the 
seventh  Angel  has  the  trumpet  to  his  lips,  i._d  is  pre- 
paring to  sound  Hallelujah  ! — for  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world  have  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of 
His  Christ,  and  he  shall  reign  forever  and  ever.” 


